No Escape from Love

"Let's go to the hospital and look for Julian. We can still turn this around as long as he's willing to tell the truth," I said firmly.

Lila accompanied me to the hospital.

"Serena, you've finally come to see me!" Julian seemed pleasantly surprised. After that, he seemed to remember something, and his expression quickly switched to one of arrogance. "I told you to reconcile with me, but you refused to listen. Have you finally learned your lesson?"

I was starting to regret coming to the hospital.

"Are you behind this whole thing online?" I looked at Julian with a frown.

Julian looked shocked. "How could I be? Most of the people might have been cursing at you since the incident blew up, but plenty have been targeting me too. Why would I ruin my own reputation for no reason?"

I was about to retort but said nothing in the end.

"Since you came to me, does that mean you're willing to reconcile?" Julian pressed.

I slowly shook my head. "You and I are the only ones who know what happened that day. Can you help me clarify everything? That video was clearly maliciously edited by someone."

I held out a sliver of hope in my heart but not too much. Sure enough, Julian said with a sinister smile, "Sure."

I looked at him expectantly, but there was no way he was going to make it so easy.

He continued, "As long as you're willing to reconcile with me, I'll immediately release a statement to prove your innocence. After all, I wouldn't be able to bear seeing my girlfriend get harassed online."

Lila stepped forward. She had to hold herself back from pointing a finger at Julian and berating him. "Julian, you're just trying to take advantage of the situation. I can't believe how despicable you are."

He chuckled. "Despicable? So what? This is just how I express my love to Serena."

Lila seemed ready to kill him at that point. "You despicable scoundrel!"

"So, what do you think?" Julian looked at me. "Serena, if you came to me, it must mean you have no other choice, right? I'm your last hope, aren't I?"

Then, after a moment, he asked with a frown, "Why are you looking at me like that?"

Suddenly, I let out a laugh. "Julian, I never thought you'd stoop this low."

"What do you mean?" Julian couldn't help but try to avoid my gaze.

"You're just pathetic," I said.

"You..." He was speechless.

I turned to leave. "Take care of yourself, Julian. Thinking about it, you've actually contributed to my online harassment too, haven't you?"

My gaze fell on his bandaged wrist before I walked away.

Julian's frustrated shouts could be heard behind me. "Come back! Serena, come back. Only I can help you. Only I can..."

Outside the hospital, I noticed that Lila had her head lowered the whole time.

"What's wrong, Lila? Are you feeling sick?" I asked with some concern.

She replied, "I just feel so bad for you."

As Lila continued, tears started to fall, "You

Grked so hard to get into

Grandview University. But just as you're about to graduate, this happens..."

I felt helpless as well, but there was

a surge of defiance inside me. I

couldn't be expelled just like that.

Grandview University was a

prestigious institution, and I had gone through so much tonoveldrama

won back

then.

I wasn't going to let these online discussions ruin my future.

I raised a hand and wiped away Lila's tears.

Lila looked at me with her reddened eyes. "How are you still smiling? Serena, why aren't you worried at all?"

"Everyone's trying to frame me, but I won't let things go the way they want," I said. Then, I pulled out my phone and called Alex.

On the other end of the line, Alex's

voice as cool and calm as

"So,

erker.

you've finally remembered who

the right person to ask for help from is?"